This time, we'll be looking at the popular manga "Aoashi," which is scheduled to be adapted into an anime in April 2022. The story follows the diverse interactions between players in the J.League youth league. The story also features many characters, including the manager, coaches, and female team members. Here, we'll introduce a carefully selected ranking of characters likely to appear in the early stages of the anime.
No. 10: Noriko Aoi
In 10th place is Noriko Aoi, the mother of the main character, Ashito Aoi. She's a tomboyish woman who raised Asito, his older brother, and Shun, and her work relentlessly day and night for her sons is particularly memorable. Her farewell letter to Asito, early in the film, reveals her true feelings. As a mother and a person, she had such a profound impact on Asito that it makes you wonder if he would have grown up the way he did without her.
9th Place: Anri Kaido
In 9th place is Anri Kaido, the daughter of the president of Esperion's parent company, Kaido Electric. Not only is she the daughter of a sponsoring company, but she's also a soccer fanatic and aspires to become a soccer coach herself. She watches a lot of international soccer and J.League matches, and is skilled at coaching tactics and soccer techniques. Her impressive coaching sessions with Asito and Togashi were also a highlight. She also has a feminine side, such as her admiration for Tatsuya Fukuda and her inability to speak well in front of him.
8th Place: Keiji Togashi
In 8th place is Keiji Togashi. He's the only scouted freshman, but he's a bit of an eccentric player, arriving at the dorms on a motorcycle with his biker gang buddies and sporting a pompadour hairstyle. Contrary to his appearance, he learned from Fukuda in elementary school and continued to practice his skills until high school. He has excellent ball control and a height that allows him to defend without being overwhelmed. His primary position is fullback (SB) or centerback (CB), but he's the type of defender who loves to join the attack.
7th Place: Soichiro Tachibana
First up in 7th place is Soichiro Tachibana, the first player to pass the selection process. He played for another youth team until junior high school, but came to Esperion to rediscover himself. His individual skills as a forward were outstanding, and he stood out during the selection process. His serious nature can make him a bit reserved, but his strong sense of responsibility makes him a reliable member of the team.
6th Place: Eisaku Otomo
The second player to pass the selection process, Eisaku Otomo, is ranked 6th. Compared to Tachibana and Aoi, he doesn't show any outstanding characteristics early on, but his calmness during the game and proactive encouragement during selection, contrasting with his usual nervous demeanor, make him a vital player for the team. As the story progresses, we'll see him shine more and more, so we're looking forward to seeing more of him.
5th Place: Nagisa Akutsu
In fifth place is Nagisa Akutsu. With his tall, intimidating face, he probably doesn't leave a good impression at first. However, I think many long-time fans of the series, starting with the manga, will love this player. He's the starting center back for the A team and can also play forward, but he and Aoi had a tense relationship from the selection process onward. However, as the story progresses, his charm, personality, and background emerge, making him one of the most compelling characters.
4th Place: Tatsuya Fukuda
In fourth place is Tatsuya Fukuda, manager of the Tokyo Cerezo Esperion Youth team. He was an accomplished player, having played in Spain and La Liga and with the Japanese national team. He also demonstrated considerable talent in development, leading to top-class results for the youth teams he coached. Furthermore, many youth players want to learn his advanced tactics, and his charisma remains strong even as a coach. Fukuda's ability to recognize Asito's talent is a testament to his talent in development.
3rd Place: Haruhisa Kuribayashi
In third place is Haruhisa Kuribayashi, a genius who made his J.League debut as a second-year high school student. He's a top player with such outstanding talent that even a glance at his play will leave you astonished at his level of skill. His talent earned him a spot on the U-20 team, even skipping a grade, and he's even been called a Japan national treasure. However, because he's such a genius, he also grieves the fact that others don't understand his ideas. His relationship with Asito is also a central part of the series.
Second Place: Hana Ichijo
Second place goes to Hana Ichijo, Fukuda's sister-in-law, who aspires to be a sports medicine specialist. While she doesn't know anything about soccer, she's skilled in dietary management and nutrition, and supports Asito by creating original meals. She's a charming woman who clearly says no when something is wrong and supports Asito when he's in doubt or about to give up. Even though she's not an expert on soccer, she has a keen eye for noticing abnormalities in players and changes in the game.
1st Place: Aoi Ashito
Our first place winner is Aoi Ashito, the protagonist of this work. It's thrilling to watch this soccer boy from a rural area of Ehime literally learn soccer from scratch in a youth team environment and watch him grow. Many readers also love Asito's straightforward attitude, unique abilities, and never-give-up gaze. His determination to overcome the challenges he faces, like a "thinking reed," is a character that inspires readers.
Summary
This time, we've ranked the characters of "Aoashi." Since the anime hasn't even started airing yet, you're probably wondering what their voices and movements will be like in the anime. There are many characters we didn't cover here, so we hope you'll get hooked on this series through both the anime and the manga.
